In the most simple computer system architecture, all control lies with the CPU (Central Processing Unit). This means not only the execution of commands that affect the CPU’s internal register… ...

Secured-core PCs help mitigate attacks like Thunderspy by requiring a device to be unlocked to gain direct memory access.

The technology is vulnerable to this type of attack because the Thunderbolt controller – a PCIe device – has DMA, which can allow an attacker to access system memory via a connected peripheral.